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You're Doing It Wrong: Painted Rotors Edition

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LandofMinos, cast thou evil bum dragger to thy scrapyard
06/17/09

In reply to You're Doing It Wrong: Painted Rotors Edition
I once read about a guy who had a 61 EK Holden (173cu in inline six) with a bit of a knock. An observant mechanic looking under the car noticed a lack of gearbox cross-member (A part in a RWD car that holds and takes the weight of the gearbox and the rear of the engine).

Mechanic wondering why the front of the gearbox and the arse of the engine wasn't dragging on the ground lifted the hood to discover a house-brick wedged between the back of the engine and the firewall!
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TexanIdiot25- needs moar horse powah
06/17/09

In reply to You're Doing It Wrong: Painted Rotors Edition
Well the idea is that when you hit the brakes, the brakes burn off the paint where they contact, and leave the paint where they don't.
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MushyHeirloom
06/17/09

In reply to You're Doing It Wrong: Painted Rotors Edition
Huh. I have the Craftsman-branded (otherwise identical) version of that Dremel.
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beercheck
06/17/09

In reply to You're Doing It Wrong: Painted Rotors Edition
Not only all of the above....... He's also got the uni-directional wheels mounted on the wrong side of the car.
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John Krewson
06/17/09

In reply to You're Doing It Wrong: Painted Rotors Edition
I wonder what color he used on his pistons?
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Miscellanea
06/17/09

In reply to You're Doing It Wrong: Painted Rotors Edition
Let's be honest. He did a really good job painting the rotors. He clearly took his time to produce such a quality finished product.
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Elhigh
06/17/09

In reply to You're Doing It Wrong: Painted Rotors Edition
Idiot. You KNOW you have to powder coat discs, Krylon can't take that kind of heat.
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Number_Six
06/17/09

In reply to You're Doing It Wrong: Painted Rotors Edition
This reminds me of the guy who shined up the whole rear tire on his Ninja 600 with Armor-All.
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beercheck
06/17/09

@#6: I did my steering wheel once when I was 16. Brilliant.
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mytdawg
06/17/09

@#6: Almost everyone has done a motorcycle seat - Once.
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beercheck
06/17/09

@mytdawg: Ugh. Forgot about that one.

Guilty.
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Mad_Science
06/17/09

@beercheck: Did that to the rubber inserts on the steps on the family Suburban when I was young.

Like ice, I tell you.
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Mad_Science
06/17/09

In reply to You're Doing It Wrong: Painted Rotors Edition
I'm always amazed someone dumb enough to paint their rotors would have the wherewithal to 1) know what rotors are; and 2) know how to remove them.
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combat chuck
06/17/09

@Mad_Science: Someone probably told the poor sucker that the mod adds 10hp, then walked away snickering.
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dolo54 blows minds and blows engines!
06/17/09

In reply to You're Doing It Wrong: Painted Rotors Edition
I hope he remembers to grease them up good. Wouldn't want the brake pads to rub off that sweet paint job.

I have to say, this tops my previous all time most despised mod, painted drum brakes.
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beercheck
06/17/09

@dolo54 blows minds and blows engines!: Why the hate on painted drums?
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dolo54 blows minds and blows engines!
06/17/09

@beercheck: look at me, I have inferior stopping power. I can't afford upgrades, but I can afford a $2 can of paint to show off my lack of money and poor judgement!
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beercheck
06/17/09

@dolo54 blows minds and blows engines!:
1. In 99% of cases, drums (rear) provide perfectly adequate stopping power.

2. If you can't afford expensive upgrades, how is spending $2 for aesthetics unreasonable?

3. Anyone with a lack of money has no business taking pride in their ride?

4. The inability to afford a car with 4-wheel disc brakes constitutes poor judgement??

In a lot of applications, drum breaks are clearly visible. In what way is brown, rusty metal preferable to a clean, painted surface?
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Mad_Science
06/17/09

@dolo54 blows minds and blows engines!: All 4 of mine were painted red from the factory.

42 years ago.
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FightingChance
06/17/09

@beercheck: Painting drums just emphasizes the economic compromise of the car. It says "this was never meant to be sporty, but now it's painted like it is."
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beercheck
06/17/09

@FightingChance: Through that lense, then, every entry-level car should be turd brown and have no expense whatsoever spent on aesthetics. The poor, old, and infirm should never comb their hair or wear nice-looking clothes.

Throw that lense away, man. A painted drum looks nicer than a rusty, brown drum. It's an indication that someone has put some effort into their vehicle. Why would you feel a nice finish on brake equipment can fall only under the jurisdiction of sports cars?

Now, if someone were to put BREMBO labels on his Chevette's drums, you might have something.
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Paul Y. can't get in the club; gotta parking lot pimp
06/17/09

@beercheck: I particularly enjoy the fake drums that I've seen on hot rods to conceal discs.

I want a set of those, badly.
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FightingChance
06/17/09

@beercheck: Because only performance brake parts are painted. Brake drums painted gray = ok. Painted red = not okay.

It's like putting big '1.5L' stickers on a Civic DX. It brings emphasis in the wrong way - the poseur way. Don't rice out brake drums, that's all I'm saying.
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beercheck
06/17/09

@FightingChance: I do not like your silly little rules. Consider them bescoffed.

@TV's Paul Y.: Haven't seen (noticed?) those. Interesting.
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Elhigh
06/17/09

@beercheck: Word. Stock on the truck was drums in the stern. I've looked but not seen any kind of disc conversion, but I don't doubt it could be done. But why bother?

I have considered painting the drums, just to keep them cleaner and maybe look a little nicer, not that anybody's looking - but I'd probably paint them black.
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Elhigh
06/17/09

@beercheck: Bescoffed! Oh, I must click you now.

And also scoff.
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combat chuck
06/17/09

In reply to You're Doing It Wrong: Painted Rotors Edition
My 4 year old did something similar. He painted about 30 of his Hot Wheels cars yellow on a whim. This didn't affect performance in any way, but some of the paint did flake off onto the carpet at grandma's house. No big deal. If he ever decides to paint his rotors when he grows up, though, I'm taking away the car keys.
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InfinitisEnd
06/17/09

In reply to You're Doing It Wrong: Painted Rotors Edition
Based on the color used, he is obviously trying to lure some wheelcatz.
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Maymar
06/17/09

@InfinitisEnd: Beat me! I was page-foiled.
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Alfisted
06/17/09

In reply to You're Doing It Wrong: Painted Rotors Edition
I'm feeling compassion here. As a young Jalop, I had no guidance at home from a father who never turned a wrench and made my share of mistakes. That's how we learn. Fortunately for me, my ignorance of those days was not posted all over the Internetz. That would come later.
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mytdawg
06/17/09

@Alfisted: I can't talk much either. Twice I've thought to myself "That rotor smells hot, I wonder if the caliper is sticking?" and then fucking touched the hot rotor. Twice...
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beercheck
06/17/09

@mytdawg: I'm a recidivist spark-plug-wire grabber.
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mytdawg
06/17/09

@beercheck: I just did that Saturday. Was poking at the PCH car and noticed what looked like a cut vacuum hose in the engine compartment. Grabbed what turned out to be the business end of a cut plug wire. While the car was running. Thought it was missing...

Wires and cap were so bad (I'm guessing 20 years or more) I didn't even get a little jolt. I was a bit taken back when I figured out what I was holding on to though.
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Elhigh
06/17/09

@beercheck: That's when the entire neighborhood discovers just how bad a pottymouth you can be.

My neighbors know. Or rather, knew. I moved after my lesson.
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leavethegun-takethecannoli
06/17/09

In reply to You're Doing It Wrong: Painted Rotors Edition
He should paint the inside of the gas tank next.
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Novaload
06/17/09

In reply to You're Doing It Wrong: Painted Rotors Edition
Y'know, I've often been an idiot but I've always managed to use necessary vs.incidental, safety-related vs. appearance, as guideposts.

Rattle can on a fender? Comin' right up.

Rattle can on any part of braking system? Hmmm, no. Potential for DANGER!
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